it looks like auburn has a new president

[aubiefifty 16,718]

ocm.auburn.edu

 

Auburn University presidential search update

 

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Dear Auburn Family,

I write today to share an update regarding Auburn University’s search for our 21^st President. As we have mentioned several times during this process, selecting a president is one of the most important decisions any university board of trustees can make. I am pleased to report the following information about our progress.

First, I would like to thank each of you again for walking with us on this path, especially Trustee and Committee Chairperson Sarah Newton and the members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. We are nearing completion of the search and are extremely appreciative for the assistance we have received in this extensive process.

Following the announcement of the search this summer, the selection of Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC as our search firm, and the appointment of our 22-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee, the advisory committee conducted eight well-attended listening sessions to collect your important thoughts and opinions about Auburn’s next leader. The feedback from those sessions was most helpful in drafting the position description, and we all began in earnest to publish the announcement and recruit qualified applicants from universities across the country.

Over the last few months, more than 60 qualified individuals expressed great interest in the Auburn presidency. The advisory committee screened applicants and interested individuals, reviewed a great amount of material about each, and ultimately selected 15 individuals to speak with the advisory committee just before the holidays. The committee spoke with a diverse pool of well-qualified educators, many of whom were sitting presidents, provosts, and deans of outstanding institutions. The advisory committee asked difficult questions, explored the individuals’ backgrounds, and each shared a confidential assessment with Greenwood/Asher.

From that point, the names of the advisory committee’s five most favored individuals were passed to the Board of Trustees. The board’s executive committee met in early January with the individuals and again asked probing questions, exploring the interest, ideas, and abilities of each. Of those five diverse individuals, one withdrew from the process and three were found especially qualified for academic leadership.

Understanding the importance of transparency and shared governance on the Auburn campus, we asked the three most currently qualified individuals for the Auburn presidency if they would be willing to come to campus so the entire Auburn Family could assess their match for the position. Two of the individuals informed us that they would not be willing to come unless they knew they would be selected as president, understandably expressing the importance of confidentiality for their careers. One individual was willing to come without knowing the outcome of the process.

I am excited to announce today that I have asked the Office of the Board of Trustees to coordinate a campus visit for Dean Chris Roberts of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University.  The visit will take place in Auburn and Montgomery, on Jan. 20 and 21 and will include public meetings with many Auburn constituencies.  In the coming days, we will communicate Dr. Roberts’ schedule with you.

Please know that your input during the pending visit is very important to the Board. We ask that you make every effort possible to meet Dean Roberts during his visit and to share your thoughts with us following the visit.

Thanks again to all of you for your participation in this important decision.

War Eagle!

Trustee and Executive Committee Chairperson Wayne Smith

Dr. Chris Roberts

[aubiefifty 16,718]

i got this from reddit and i assume this is true.

[CodeRocket 410]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

Understanding the importance of transparency and shared governance on the Auburn campus, we asked the three most currently qualified individuals for the Auburn presidency if they would be willing to come to campus so the entire Auburn Family could assess their match for the position. Two of the individuals informed us that they would not be willing to come unless they knew they would be selected as president, understandably expressing the importance of confidentiality for their careers. One individual was willing to come without knowing the outcome of the process.

When I read this yesterday I thought to myself, "This was an inside pick all the way", of course the other two qualified candidates withdrew their names. That is exactly what I would do if I were applying for a new job, and the potential employer wanted we to go public with my interest in their company. Who actually informs their current employer that they are looking for other employment? Am I missing something here?

[AUx 3,001]

Yeah. It reads like, "So now, we erected one final criteria that only a current employee would be prepared to meet. Thanks to everyone else for applying." I don't think Roberts is a bad selection in any way. In fact I think he will be a great selection. If this is what it takes to avoid an ice burg like Leath, so be it. But the optics look a little silly and the 500 words, .... defensive. War Eagle!

[NoALtiger 3,849]

JABA

[AUx 3,001]

11 minutes ago, NoALtiger said:

JABA

Junior Amateur Business Actions 

[tigers23 644]

Another inside hire....shocking

[DAG 33,955]

Hilarious 

[aubaseball 2,585]

Just curious, but why does it matter how the hiring occurred.   Auburn went outside and got what turned out to be a terrible hire (Leath).   And all the jobs I’ve ever seen is that at some point your current employer is going to find out before it’s official that you got the other job due to background checks and employer interviews 

[AUx 3,001]

I don't fault the prospective decision at all, nor do I think AU alumni or fans should criticize the institution as "hiring another insider." There are insiders and then there are insiders. This doesn't smack of the crony GOB insider. I just think somebody(ies) had some insecurity, felt the need to mitigate some latent risk, or deflect criticism (from someone) at the end point, to take it to a guest preacher elimination round. And then the press release is over-sharing. Puting this in the rear view mirror will yield some sorely-needed stability.

[steeleagle 2,945]

1 hour ago, AUx said:

I don't fault the prospective decision at all, nor do I think AU alumni or fans should criticize the institution as "hiring another insider." There are insiders and then there are insiders. This doesn't smack of the crony GOB insider. I just think somebody(ies) had some insecurity, felt the need to mitigate some latent risk, or deflect criticism (from someone) at the end point, to take it to a guest preacher elimination round. And then the press release is over-sharing. Puting this in the rear view mirror will yield some sorely-needed stability.

Just curious. How do you know it doesn't smack of GOB insider?  I have nothing to sway me either way. 

The key is 2 fold. He has to bring in funding, maintain our research and development as a top school for many of our departments. And he has to manage a major department in our Athletics that is the core of our ability to compete on a high level in our conference and the college landscape.

He and whoever are his best supporters on the Board, are going to need to be on top of whoever they hire to replace AG, within the next year for sure...

[wcware 1,365]

Is it just me or does he favor David Housel? I’m not googling to look but my brain says he could play his body double. Then again I could be completely wrong and making all this up.

[cole256 17,039]

This won't end well

[oracle79 3,569]

I'd like to know how close he is with Harbert and/or Rane. 

[ScotsAU 1,311]

As long as Gogue is out soon, it’s a blessing. I can’t freaking stand Gogue.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Chris Roberts is a great choice. He has done a great job as Dept. Head of CE and lately as Dean of Engineering. I know him personally as a member of the Engineering Advisory Committee. He loves and knows Auburn and is well liked by the faculty. That goes a long way. I talked about Chris to a former Provost of AU just a couple of days ago when I became aware that Chris was the man. This former Provost knows AU backwards and forward including academics as well as the politics. He too thinks Chris will be a good President.

[cole256 17,039]

20 minutes ago, Proud Tiger said:

Chris Roberts is a great choice. He has done a great job as Dept. Head of CE and lately as Dean of Engineering. I know him personally as a member of the Engineering Advisory Committee. He loves and knows Auburn and is well liked by the faculty. That goes a long way. I talked about Chris to a former Provost of AU just a couple of days ago when I became aware that Chris was the man. This former Provost knows AU backwards and forward including academics as well as the politics. He too thinks Chris will be a good President.

🙄

[Hank2020 3,195]

We’ll at least if he is an Engineer, we know he didn’t get picked due to his personality.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

52 minutes ago, Hank2020 said:

We’ll at least if he is an Engineer, we know he didn’t get picked due to his personality.

Watch it youngun'😀

[3rdgeneration 6,469]

59 minutes ago, Hank2020 said:

We’ll at least if he is an Engineer, we know he didn’t get picked due to his personality.

He actually has a great personality, according to my son-in-law, who knows him through his doctorate studies in the ChemE dept. Alex says he’s very personable, and highly capable. He is very happy with this hire.  Even though this is an Auburn dean we are hiring, he is not an Auburn graduate.  He is actually a big Notre Dame fan, according to Alex.  

Edited January 15, 2022 by 3rdgeneration

[3rdgeneration 6,469]

@Proud Tiger, were you ChemE at Auburn? When were you there?

Edited January 16, 2022 by 3rdgeneration
Stupid autocorrect

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

1 minute ago, 3rdgeneration said:

@Proud Tiger, we’re you ChemE at Auburn? When we’re you there?

I was AE '59. Then got MS in AE from VirginIa Tech and did doctor's studies at Oklahoma.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Proud Tiger

[PowerOfDixieland 3,225]

5 minutes ago, 3rdgeneration said:

Even though this is an Auburn dean we are hiring, he is not an Auburn graduate.  He is actually a big Notre Dame fan, according to Alex.  

University of Missouri undergrad, Notre Dame post-grad.  Will be interesting to see how it plays out for fellow ND alum Alan Greene. 

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,641]

One thing that’s an absolute fact is that the School of Engineering is at worst one of the two best ran programs on the campus. I don’t know how this reflects on the sports side at all, but nowhere else in state is in the same world in that field. 

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

12 minutes ago, PowerOfDixieland said:

University of Missouri undergrad, Notre Dame post-grad.  Will be interesting to see how it plays out for fellow ND alum Alan Greene. 

I doubt Dr. Roberts will jump into the Athletic Dept. right away since Gen. Burgess from the president's Office is still there.